Discarded Cigarette Butts Cause Minor Fire At LOB

After being called to the Legislative Office Building for a reported structure fire, firefighters concluded that cigarette butts began to smolder–causing foam insulation to ignite and send smoke through the building’s ventilation system.

A firefighter on the scene tells me that discarded cigarette butts were getting pushed into the cracks of the stone tiles outside the east exit of the building (and probably a similar situation at other exits around the plaza). Over time, “thousands” accumulated underneath, he said.

The tile, which had visible char marks and emitting smoke, was removed and shortly after workers were told they could reenter the building just before 4 p.m.

This entry was posted by Mike Whittemore on April 9, 2012 at 4:19 pm, and is filed under Albany. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

BusterBrown

That’s a disgusting sight. Enough is enough. Smoking should be banned COMPLETELY on Empire State Plaza property. Violaters should be ticketed and fined something like $100 per violation. It’s the ONLY way to get the bastids away from the buildings and out of the underground parking areas (especially in the winter). I don’t smoke and don’t want my clothes smelling like cigarettes. State employees shouldn’t REEK of cigarettes while on the job. The elevators shouldn’t reek of cigarettes after smokers use them. It’s time to declare war!

BusterBrown

BTW, I seem to recall a couple of OGS employees working like dogs all last summer fixing up the LOB. It was hot as hell outside while they worked. They were on their hands and knees for months stuffing new insulation in all of the interstices along the LOB walkways. They also were up in cherry pickers stuffing new insulation between tiles on the LOB’s exterior walls. That was a BIG job. I assume that it helps keep water from leaking into the underground offices and keep the tiles from falling off the LOB’s walls onto state workers’ heads — a worthy endeavor.

So…what’s the point in doing all of that work if smokers are just going to destroy the insulation — by grinding hot cigarette butts into it?!

Ban smoking on Empire State Plaza property! Seriously enforce the ban, too. If smokers don’t like it, that’s too bad. They had their chance and blew it. Off with their heads!